Method and apparatus for searching over a network
AssigneesSony Corporation, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC
InventorsCharles McCoy, Ling Jun Wong, True Xiong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for performing global searching using second display devices. In an IPTV system, a second display application is typically a more complex application. There are typically many features, which increase complexity when a user attempts to find an asset, a service, a utility, a shortcut, or other information and/or content of the second display application. The use of a global search tool enhances the usage of the second display application, especially when a utility is buried in the second display application, making that utility more difficult to access.
Claims28
A method for searching content using one or more first user devices for display on one or more other user devices, the method comprising:
- logging into a user's account using a first user device;
- authenticating the first user device;
- requesting an application from a service provider, utilizing the first user device;
- accessing the requested application using the first user device;
- requesting device information about all the one or more other user devices linked to the user's account, the device information including IP addresses of all the one or more other user devices linked to the user's account, utilizing the first user device;
- obtaining the requested device information about the one or more other user devices;
- inputting search criteria using the first user device;
- searching, using the first user device, for search results corresponding to the search criteria among content included in a current content list and a cached content list that are stored in the user's account linked to all the one or more other user devices;
- generating a search result list containing search results according to the input search criteria;
- selecting a search result from the search result list;
- determining a search result type, the search result type selected from the group consisting of (asset, service, utility, and shortcut);
- sending a command, from the first user device, to the one or more other user devices to present the selected search result;
- and
- selecting a particular search result type;
- accessing the selected search result to be presented on the one or more other user devices based on the particular search result type without interrupting the searching by the first user device,
- wherein when the particular search result type is:
- a. an asset then the asset is played on an IPTV linked to the user's account;
- b. a service then the first user device is directed to a service landing page;
- c. a utility then the utility page is returned to the first user device;
- and
- d. a shortcut then assets or services associated with the shortcut are returned to the first user device,
- wherein if the one or more other user devices receives the command to present the selected search result when a prior search result is being presented on the one or more other user devices, the selected search result is placed in a queue in the one or more other user devices and presented when presentation of the prior search result is completed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.